Hi all, first time post!.. Enjoy reading the forum.
Firstly, I think we have got a great deal, Largs Bay for approx $A100m, right price, right ship and at the right time, especially until the LHDs come into service and beyond.
A number of thoughts/questions have come to mind.
Largs Bay certainly seems to be the correct fit for JP2048 Phase 4C (a budget of $A300-500m, only that it will come into service, for obvious reasons, 12-13 years earlier than planned because of the worn out LPA's.
The Phase 4C capability was to have come into service around the mid 2020's and have a service life of 20 years, eg retiring/replaced around 2045.
Largs Bay is already 5-6 years old, yes still very new, and if its in service for say, up to 20 years (if we look after her properly!!), that would see her being replaced around the early 2030's, which will be well before the LHD's themselves eventually require replacement.
So? Will Phase 4C be deleted? (as will happen with the RAAF's extra C17, the additional C130's not being proceeded with) OR will Phase 4C be "re-jigged" to come into effect when Largs Bay does retire?
Another question is, I assume, as has been mentioned, Largs Bay will receive a basic quick refit (Australian specific items, paint, minor repair, etc) before entering service, will that be in the UK or here after she arrives, and at what additional cost?
I would also assume that once in service early next year, Largs Bay will be operated "as is" in her current configuration until well after the LHD's are in service.
That brings me to my last point, major modifications, eg helicopter hanger. I had read that the Bay class had/has an option for hangar facilities, I would assume similar to her Dutch and Spanish part sisters?
I have seen pictures of what looks like a "temporary" hangar on the deck behind the bridge, have to protect helicopters from the weather, etc, if they are staying on deck for any period of time.
So possibly at her first major refit / upgrade hangar facilities may be included(?), and I wonder at what cost? I would again assume that we could utilise the "plans" that would have been prepared for the UK.
Has anyone seen any sketches / plans of what the Bays would look like with that upgrade?
Regards,
John